Flame Retardant Behaviour and Physical-Mechanical Properties of Polymer Synergistic Systems in Rigid Polyurethane Foams.

In the presented work, the influence of two flame retardants-ammonium polyphosphates and 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine on the polyurethane foam (PUR) systems were studied. In this paper, these interactive properties are studied by using the thermal analytical techniques, TGA and DTA, which enable the various thermal transitions and associated volatilization to be studied and enable the connection of the results with thermal and mechanical analysis, as are thermal conductivities, compression and bending behavior, hardness, flammability, and surface morphology. In this way, a greater understanding of what the addition of fire retardants to polyurethane foams means for system flammability itself and, on the other hand, how this addition affects the mechanical properties of PUR may be investigated.

Sintering of Lead-Free Piezoelectric Sodium Potassium Niobate Ceramics.

The potassium sodium niobate, KNaNbO₃, solid solution (KNN) is considered as one of the most promising, environment-friendly, lead-free candidates to replace highly efficient, lead-based piezoelectrics. Since the first reports of KNN, it has been recognized that obtaining phase-pure materials with a high density and a uniform, fine-grained microstructure is a major challenge. For this reason the present paper reviews the different methods for consolidating KNN ceramics.